Adjustable coat hanger



H. L. NEEDLES ADJUSTABLE COAT HANGER Aug. 30, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 22, 1953 Henry L. Need/es INVENTOR.

Aug. 30, 1955 H. L. NEEDLES ADJUSTABLE COAT HANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

Henry L. Need/es BY w United States Patent- ADJUSTABLE COAT HANGER Henry L. Needles, Wethersfield, Conn. Application September 22, 1953, Serial No. 381,725 3 Claims. Cl. 22389) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in coat or garment hangers and more particularly to an adjustable hanger adapted to properly fit coats of different shoulder widths.

An important object of the invention is to provide a garment hanger constructed with extensible sloping arms and an extensible trouser hanging bar.

Another object is to provide a quick releasable locking means for the arms.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efiicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one of the adjustable arms shown in retracted positron;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the arm in extended position;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a modified construction;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing one of the arms in retracted position;

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the arm extended;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 9-9 of Figure 8 and Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 1010 of Figure 9.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and first with respect to the form of invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a coat hanger which includes a pair of oppositely sloping fixed arms 6. Each arm is constructed with identical extensible means and accordingly a detailed description of one will suifice for both.

A channel member 7 is inverted on top of arm 6 and is secured thereto by screws or the like 8. An extension arm 9 is slidable under the channel member and on top of the fixed arm and a stop pin or screw 10 projects upwardly from the extension arm adjacent its inner end for sliding in a longitudinal slot 11 in the top of the channel member to prevent removal of the extension from the channel.

A longitudinal row of notches 12 is formed in the underside of extension arm 9 in which a slidable locking pin or dog 13 is selectively engaged, the latter being slidable vertically in fixed arm 6 and projected upwardly into locking'position by a coil spring 14. Spring 14 is positioned on a support 15 at the lower edge of channel 7 and tensionally engages one end of a lever 16 having an opening 17 through which the lower end of pin or dog 13 projects and with a head 18 on the pin, or dog beneaththe lever to retract the former. Lever 16 is pivoted at its central portion at the underside of fixed arm 6 by a screw 19 and is inclined downwardly; as shown at 20, at its free end to provide the necessary rocking movement to retract the locking pin or dog 13 by an upward movement of the free end of the lever.

The outer end of extension arm 9 is inclined downwardly below fixed arm 6 and to which one end of a rod 21 is pivoted and with the other end of the rod Slld-g able in one end of a sleeve 22 which forms an extensible trouser hanging bar supported at the outer ends of the, pair of extensible arms.

A squeezing action subjected to the free end 20 of, lever 16 will pull the locking pin or dog 13 downwardly to release the extensible arm 9 which may then slide inwardly or outwardly on fixed arm 6 to adjust the,

arms to accommodate coats of different shoulder widths.

Figures 6 to 10 inclusive illustrate a modified coat hanger construction and which comprises a pair of oppositely sloping fixed arms 23 on which inverted chan-; nel members 24 are positioned and which are pivoted at their inner ends to the respective arms by pins or screws 25 for vertical swinging movement of the outer ends of the channels.

An extension arm 26 is slidable between each channel and its fixed arm and a stop pin or screw 27 projects outwardly at one side of the extension arm and is slidable in a longitudinal slot 28 in the adjacent side of channel 24. A row of notches 29 is formed at the underside of extension arm 26 to selectively receive a locking pin or dog 30 which is fixed to and projects upwardly from the top of fixed arm 23.

A coil spring 31 is mounted on a support 32 at the lower edge of channel 24 and bears against the underside of fixed arm 23 to hold the channel and extension arm downwardly in locked position with the pin or dog 30.

An extensible trouser hanger bar 33 is attached to the outer ends of the extension arms 26.

In this form of the invention the garment hanger is held at its central portion by one hand of a person and the other hand used to raise the outer end of extension arm 26 to release the notches 29 from the locking pin or dog 30 whereupon the extension arm is free to slide inwardly or outwardly to a desired adjusted position.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A garment hanger comprising a pair of oppositely extending, downwardly sloping fixed arms, an inverted channel-shaped guide secured on top of each fixed arm, an extension arm slidable inwardly and outwardly between-each fixed arm and each guide, one of the arms of each pair of fixed and slidably related extension arms having a row of recesses therein, a locking dog carried by each of the other of said pair of fixed and slidably related extension arms and lockably engaged in a selected recess, and spring means supported by each guide and urging a related dog in locked position.

2. A garment hanger comprising a pair of oppositely extending, downwardly sloping fixed arms, a channel member secured in an inverted position to each fixed arm, an extension arm slidable in each channel member on top of its related fixed arm, each extension arm ha'vingsarow of'recesses therein,-:a springrprojected dog carried by eachwfixed arm for lockings-tengagemerit in a selected recess; and "1a 'vlever' pivoted to 'the': underside of each fixed arm andconnected to ia related !dog1 for-" releasing the' latter.

3. A garment hanger comprising a pair =of oppositely extending-,. downwardly sloping fiXed arms, an inverted channel member on top of-and enclosingreach fixed ably securing each extension 5 arm in adjusted position to the fixed arm, said locking'means being released by lifting the extension arm upwardly to swing its related channel member upwardly onits pivot and spring means supported by each channel member and underlying its related fixed arm to urge the channel member and the extension arm downwardly toward the fixed arm to maintain each extension arm lockably engaged with its related References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 2,41'91621 Harriset a1." Apr. 29; 1947 2,446,312 Usin'a- Aug. 3, 1948 2,637,471 Goldschmidt et al May 5, 1953 

